Foundation Models

Large-scale AI systems trained on broad, diverse datasets that serve as starting points for developing specialised applications through fine-tuning or adaptation. These models provide general capabilities that businesses can customise for specific operational needs without investing in training massive models from scratch. Foundation models represent the "general education" that AI systems receive before specialising, enabling organisations to leverage sophisticated AI capabilities whilst focusing development resources on business-specific requirements. Examples include language models that understand general text but can be adapted for legal document analysis, medical transcription, or financial reporting.